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Think you can hit every note in a pop song? Think again! Join us as we explore iconic pop tracks that challenge even the most skilled vocalists with their soaring highs, rapid shifts, and emotional intensity. From timeless classics to modern anthems, these songs demand breath control, range, and stamina. Ready to test your vocal chops? Let’s dive into the vocal mountains of pop’s hardest hits!
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00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the most famous and most difficult pop songs
00:11to sing.
00:18Number 30, Livin' on a Prayer, Bon Jovi.
00:21Gotta hold on to what we've got. It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.
00:29Considered a signature song of this classic rock band, Livin' on a Prayer follows the struggles of a working-class
00:35couple in the economic recession of the late 70s.
00:38It will also have you struggling if you ever try to sing it with anything close to the rock panache
00:43of Bon Jovi.
00:44Give me a shot. Oh, I'm halfway there. Oh!
00:51While the tempo is modest, the verses start pretty high, modulating from E minor to G minor for the chorus,
00:58and then the chorus itself forces the singer to hit a series of very high notes.
01:02And, of course, it's the catchiest part. R.I.P. to our lungs.
01:14Number 29, S.O.S. d'un terrien en détresse, Dimash Koudalbergen.
01:19This classic of French chanson comes from the most unlikely of sources.
01:23The 1978 cult rock opera Star Mania, written by Michel Berger and Luc Plamandon.
01:29And we do mean opera.
01:39This despondent solo by Johnny Roquefort is one of the most insanely difficult numbers in all of musical theatre history.
01:47It spans two and a half octaves, with the refrain beginning low and ending up in the stratosphere.
02:01In 2015, Kazakhstan singer Dimash Koudalbergen showed off his preternatural range with S.O.S.,
02:08switching seamlessly between operatic vibrato and rock vocals.
02:12We are still picking our jaws up off the floor.
02:23Number 28, Hyper Ballad, Björk.
02:26High and low notes are one thing, syncopated modulation is another.
02:31Icelandic musician Björk released this critically acclaimed synth-pop number for her second solo album,
02:36about all the things we sacrifice for love.
02:39Every morning, I'm one to one to the end.
02:44Known for her three-octave range, Björk doesn't tax the listener overly much when it comes to dynamic range.
02:51Nevertheless, her unconventional voice and the song's modest range
02:55makes Hyper Ballad sound simpler musically than it truly is.
02:58I wonder what my body would sound like
03:04Slurming against rose rocks
03:07The syncopation itself is a killer, and the number even features some dissonance.
03:12Even trained singers will struggle with hitting the correct notes.
03:24Number 27, Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland.
03:36Don't be fooled by its simple, if poignant lyrics.
03:40This legendary Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg standard from The Wizard of Oz
03:44is filled with wistful longing about life over the rainbow.
03:47It will also force the singer to jump over that rainbow,
03:51and with the opening two notes a complete octave.
03:53The singer must also have good breath control to handle the long phrasing,
03:57some quiet high notes,
03:59and a Quicksilver B melody beginning with
04:01For singers who include the introductory ditty,
04:14there is yet another high note to contend with.
04:16This is no rainbow you can belt your way out of.
04:26It's tough jumping over that rainbow,
04:28but jumping on Ms. Mojo's 24-7 live stream couldn't be easier.
04:32Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for non-stop pop culture chaos.
04:37Number 26, Sherry, The Four Seasons.
04:41If the falsetto is any indication,
04:43this Sherry is hard to reach.
04:49Sherry baby
04:51Written by Bob Gaudio,
04:53this doo-wop number was made famous by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons,
04:57with their typical falsetto voices.
04:59Needless to say, cover artists must contend with a high key and high notes,
05:04but also harmonies and overlapping solos.
05:07And while you're up there,
05:08you have to swoop down to some low notes.
05:10Why don't you come on
05:13To that twist party
05:15Come on
05:17Where the bright moon shines
05:19Come on
05:20Who'll dance the night again
05:23I'm gonna make you mine
05:26The number also moves at a moderately fast tempo,
05:29so you can't take your sweet time either.
05:31Good luck getting to Sherry.
05:34Moving nice and easy
05:37Hell, you'll make me lose my mind
05:41Number 25, Don't Rain On My Parade,
05:44Barbara Streisand
05:45Of course, any song on which Streisand shows off her impressive range
05:49is not for limited range amateurs.
05:52Don't tell me not to fly
05:53I simply got to
05:55If someone takes a spill
05:56It's me and not you
05:58Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
06:01Written by Bob Merrill and Julie Stein,
06:04this brassy, show-stopping solo from Funny Girl is no leisurely parade.
06:09Even the beginning makes the singer wrestle with short notes and punchy lyrics.
06:13One roll from the whole shebang
06:16One throw that bell with the clang
06:19Eye on the target and wham
06:21One shot, one gunshot and bam
06:24After you've already spent a tremendous amount of vocal power and breath control,
06:29you then have to contend with a high-octane climax
06:32and hold that last note for at least forever.
06:35Don't Rain On My Parade is a great showcase for the talented belter to be sure
06:39but competing with none other than the Barbara Streisand is no easy feat.
06:44Rain on my parade
07:00Number 24
07:01Dream On
07:02Aerosmith
07:08We can only dream of covering this power ballad effectively.
07:13Elegiac and grandiose written by lead singer Steven Tyler
07:16Dream On is one of the group's best-known songs
07:19inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.
07:22It's also not a walk in the park to sing.
07:25You know it's true
07:29And all the things come back to you
07:35There are those incredibly high dream-ons, for instance, sung falsetto for obvious reasons.
07:41But also, it's difficult to capture the classical intensity and rock-drive ostinato of both the melody and the lyrics.
07:54Number 23
07:55Earth Song
07:56Michael Jackson
07:57No list would be complete without a single from this wunderkind artist.
08:07One of the few religious-themed numbers in his repertoire,
08:10Michael Jackson's Earth Song is an environmentally conscious cri de coeur
08:14that will take a toll on the brave singer who attempts it.
08:17With blues and gospel influences,
08:19Earth Song begins deceptively soft and ends with at least a full minute of high belting.
08:31For a six-minute-plus song, this is a tall order.
08:34Even Jackson strains to consistently hit those notes,
08:37taking him to the very end of his range.
08:40This Earth Song is massive.
08:49Number 22
08:50Time to Say Goodbye
08:51Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli
09:01When it comes to insanely difficult pop songs to sing, though,
09:05nothing can best the classical crossovers.
09:07Written by Francesco Sartori and Lucho Quarantotto as Conte Partirò,
09:12this triumphant romantic aria really took on new life
09:15when tenor Andrea Bocelli and soprano Sarah Brightman released a version with English lyrics.
09:21Naturally, this song is not for amateurs.
09:31Even the beginning requires operatic heft and depth,
09:35a solid knowledge of Italian phonetics,
09:37and tremendous dynamic range.
09:39And of course, you have to hit the money note at the very end for at least two bars.
09:44If you can nail all of that, however,
09:46it is supremely satisfying to sing.
10:01Number 21
10:02And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
10:05Jennifer Holliday
10:06No, no, no, no, no way
10:08No, no, no, no way
10:11I'm living without you
10:13If it's not opera, then it's musical theater.
10:16Again.
10:16Written by Tom Ion and Henry Krieger for the 1981 musical Dreamgirls,
10:21this show-stopping gospel number is one of the most renowned Act I finales.
10:26An impassioned and defiant love declaration,
10:29And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going requires a truly superhuman artist to handle its vocal demands.
10:35Just the range alone would undo any singer not up to par.
10:42And I Am Telling You
10:49Jennifer Holliday nabbed a well-deserved Tony for her performance,
10:53while Jennifer Hudson, who took on the solo for the 2006 film adaptation of the musical,
10:58won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
11:01No one is going anywhere during this song.
11:03And you, and you, and you, don't come love me
11:17Bonnie Tyler's 1980s classic is one of the best karaoke tracks ever.
11:22It's also especially hard to nail down.
11:30Some might call it cheesy,
11:32but only the most powerful pipes can truly rise to the occasion.
11:35If you really want to struggle,
11:37try to hit the notes that Tyler reaches in this chorus.
11:47Total Eclipse of the Heart may seem like an old-fashioned pop tune,
11:51but it requires an exceptional voice.
11:53This power ballad climbs to a dramatic climax,
11:56allowing the vocalist to bring her trademark raspiness to the finish.
12:00We might think that we can sing the lyrics like a true champion,
12:03but deep down, we know we need a true hero to do the job right.
12:15Do you believe in life after love?
12:18This question can't be sung by just anyone.
12:21Cher famously used auto-tune in her original recording,
12:24making it hard to match the first version.
12:26I can feel something inside me say
12:30I really don't think you're strong enough, no
12:34The electronic-induced perfection of the singer's performance
12:37demands the utmost precision to match.
12:40Unless you're specially suited for the role,
12:42you probably won't be able to cover this one.
12:44I don't need you anymore
12:47No, I don't need you anymore
12:50Fortunately, Adam Lambert did manage to do the track justice
12:54in a tribute to the musical icon.
12:56His soulful rendition of Believe re-envisioned the composition
12:59without digital manipulation,
13:01proving that it can be done if you're also able to sing for Queen.
13:05I really don't think you're strong enough
13:10No
13:14Number 18
13:15Bleeding Love
13:16Leona Lewis
13:17This X-Factor champion took a song and made it unforgettable.
13:21Leona Lewis will be forever associated with Bleeding Love,
13:25showing everyone that she earned her first place finish.
13:27My heart's crippled by the vein
13:30And I keep on closing
13:34You cut me open
13:36Bleeding Love is a soaring number
13:38that demands well-rounded and gifted vocalists to perform it.
13:41Lewis is more than up to the task,
13:43easily letting her voice simply glide into all of the hardest notes.
13:47I'll be wearing these colors for everyone to see
13:52After hearing certain sections like the bridge,
13:56you're amazed that she has enough breath left to finish the track.
14:00This emotional experience requires the most talented vocalists
14:03to reach for big notes and then reach even higher.
14:07I can't, I can't feel you
14:12You cut me open
14:13Number 17
14:15There Must Be An Angel Playing With My Heart
14:17Eurythmics
14:27Annie Lennox sounds as upbeat as she ever has on this track.
14:31That doesn't mean that this song is easy to sing, however,
14:33as she flutters her voice up and down like a true professional.
14:37The arrhythmic singer gives There Must Be An Angel an appropriately ethereal quality,
14:41which is exceptionally hard to mimic.
14:52Her controlled vocal makes this into a high-wire act, avoiding disaster at every turn.
14:58Lennox performs it perfectly and provides one of her most indelible performances.
15:02The singer is a music legend for a reason,
15:05and she pushes her powerful voice to the limit once more in this masterful interpretation.
15:19This particular singer might have one of the most underrated voices in pop.
15:23His songs are especially tricky, with Grace Kelly showcasing one prime example of his unique sound.
15:30How can I help ya? How can I help ya? How can I help ya?
15:32How can I help ya? What should ya think?
15:34Hello my baby, hello my baby, putting my life on my brain
15:37The chorus represents the vocalist's enviable range.
15:40It takes a special voice to tackle this successfully, forcing performers to fight for their life as they hit those
15:46highs and lows.
15:55Mika's single even played a part in a popular TikTok meme, challenging listeners to replicate its one-of-a-kind
16:01style.
16:02Unless you have the pipes of Mika, we'd expect most casual singers out there to have some trouble.
16:08Gotta be dream, gotta be dream, gotta be everything more
16:11Why don't you like me, why don't you like me?
16:14One character
16:16Number 15. Stayin' Alive, Bee Gees
16:19For Saturday Night Fever, the Bee Gees provided a disco soundtrack that was massively successful and became iconic.
16:26Stayin' Alive brings together the brothers' knack for harmonies,
16:29while also letting Barry shine on high-pitched verses.
16:37Good luck finding three male singers that can belt out notes like this trio.
16:41They really shine on the chorus, providing tight-knit performances that can't be replicated.
16:53It's not every day that a musical act covers them, and for good reason.
16:57Creating one of the songs that defined the disco era, this group is operating at the higher end of 1970s
17:04pop vocalists.
17:05Stayin' Alive
17:13Number 14. Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers
17:17It might be one of the most famous love songs of its era, and has remained a favorite down through
17:22the decades.
17:23The definitive version by The Righteous Brothers features Bobby Hatfield taking the lead vocal.
17:34He made an indelible mark on this track with his sweet and soulful tone.
17:38Most anyone that tries to match his signature voice will quickly realize they're out of their league, unless they're Elvis.
17:45Still my eye
17:52Hatfield soars to great heights and notes, twirling through some of the more iconic lyrics of the 1960s.
17:58His best moment comes with a mountain of a high note that few could maneuver successfully.
18:08Number 13. I Believe in a Thing Called Love, The Darkness
18:12With a nod to glam and hard rock, The Darkness supercharged the 2000s with this hit single.
18:25I Believe in a Thing Called Love features all the bells and whistles of a glam track, including a stellar
18:31vocal.
18:32Justin Hawkins delivers an amazing performance here, giving the likes of Freddie Mercury a run for their money.
18:37His almost operatic voice cuts through huge notes like butter.
18:42Touching you
18:43Touching you
18:46Hawkins has to keep up with towering melodies and even play guitar, raising the bar for multitasking singers.
18:52It's rare that modern artists can rock out and blow you away with this kind of difficult track.
19:04Number 12. Take On Me, AHA
19:07Norwegian band AHA struts their musical talents in what has become one of the most memorable songs of the 1980s.
19:14Morten Harkett also shows off his skills as a masterful pop vocalist.
19:18Take On Me doesn't let the performer off easy, forcing him to reach the top of his register.
19:23Take On Me, I'll be gone
19:29Harkett and any cover artists have to be in prime vocal shape to do the music justice.
19:34For every chorus, the vocalist must climb to falsetto in order to sell the song's climactic moments.
19:45Doing that multiple times in one track isn't any small feat.
19:49Decades later, the original singer could still hit those incredible notes.
19:53Love you
20:00Number 11. Love In You, Minnie Riperton
20:03Minnie Riperton is arguably best remembered for this song, which showcased her amazing vocals to a wide audience.
20:10Few singers can boast a signature tune as memorable or as difficult to sing.
20:14Love In You
20:16She builds up to a chorus that contains an incredibly iconic note, rendering the ordinary performer powerless.
20:28Riperton set the bar incredibly high for pop vocalists of the future.
20:37Unless you're able to somehow develop an immaculate technique, you'll likely blow out your voice and still fail to achieve
20:44music excellence.
20:45Many have tried, but few have been able to capture the majesty of the artist's five octave range.
20:51Loving you
20:53I see your soul come shining through
20:57Number 10. Bohemian Rhapsody
21:00Queen
21:01Mixing together rock and pop sensibilities, Queen reached a career high with the landmark Bohemian Rhapsody.
21:07Easy come, easy go
21:10Little high, little low
21:13Credit obviously goes to the work of lead vocalist Freddie Mercury and backup singing from his bandmates,
21:19as this epic track brilliantly showcases the group's ability to serve up classic harmonies.
21:24This is especially clear in the operatic sections, which simply boggle the mind.
21:37This iconic single switches gears and genres multiple times, calling upon the performer to make abrupt changes requiring great skill.
21:45Even with the amazing vocal prowess they display on somebody to love, this still stands as their best.
21:58Number 9. Chandelier
22:00Sia
22:10An enigmatic artist with a vibrant sound, Australian performer Sia came to worldwide prominence in response to her efforts on
22:18songs like Chandelier.
22:19Her years of hard work clearly allowed the musician to hone her talents for a solo career.
22:24After producing some lingering drama in the verses, the sheer depth of her voice finally explodes in the track's famous
22:31hook.
22:42The single presents a number of difficult sections for any would-be vocalist to attempt.
22:47Without the ability to sync to low notes and climb to unspeakable highs, few singers could match Sia in her
22:53fantastic performance.
23:03Number 8. Hello, Adele
23:05Hello, it's me
23:10Among the more distinctive artists of the 21st century, Adele sounds like nobody else of her generation.
23:16She released Hello at the height of her fame and didn't disappoint her fans with this effort, which embodies her
23:21particular style.
23:22Featured on her 25 album, the track soars to massive heights thanks to Adele's efforts in the chorus.
23:29The heartbreaking song allows her to unleash a dramatic tidal wave on listeners.
23:39Beyond the accolades or a chart success, the single will be remembered for the artist's supercharged talent in capturing every
23:46possible opportunity presented by this impressive melody.
23:49The fact that it's become an iconic piece of pop culture is just a bonus.
23:53At least I couldn't say that I'm trying
23:59Number 7. Dog Days Are Over, Florence and the Machine
24:03Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
24:06Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
24:10Off of their debut album, Lungs, Florence and the Machine use this track as a calling card to let the
24:15world know they were here.
24:16Florence Welch's vocals are immediately recognizable, sounding like no one else in her field.
24:22She brings together a mix of rock and indie music to this pop production, which combine to perfectly show off
24:28her range.
24:35Few artists can match this triumphant sound even at their peak, let alone so early in their career.
24:41The song's staggering phrases demand power and precision.
24:44By the end of the track, we're all out of breath just trying to keep up with her.
24:57Number 6. Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush
25:00There's nobody in the history of pop music that sings quite like Kate Bush.
25:04Her unique artistry created legendary recordings such as Wuthering Heights, which she released while still a teenager.
25:18Few singers have such a command of their vocal chords at that age.
25:22She defies cliches, descriptions and time signatures throughout this eclectic and exciting experience.
25:28Bush's cinematic performance perfectly captures and realizes the classic story that inspired this unique piece of music.
25:43Redefining the pop template, she paved the way for non-traditional performers to follow in her footsteps.
25:48Given that she's completely different in every way, this effort doesn't receive many covers, as who could match the original?
26:02Number 5. Listen, Beyonce
26:05Multi-talented artist, Beyonce has spent several decades perfecting her musical style.
26:10She combined her known talent for singing with superlative acting in the film Dream Girls, which included her song, Listen.
26:17To the sound from deep within
26:21It's only beginning
26:24To find release
26:27The singer shows she can easily handle pop music as well as any other genre.
26:32Her powerful performance highlights the emotional lyrics, giving the performer ample opportunity to wow audiences with her range.
26:40Listen
26:43To the song here in my heart
26:47A melody I start
26:50But I will complete
26:54B's dynamic showmanship guides her through the composition with graceful vocal flourishes.
27:00Beyonce hit a high point with this song, later pursuing more pop sounds on stellar tracks like Love on Top.
27:05Baby, cause you're the one that I love
27:08Baby, you're the one that I see
27:11You're the only one I see
27:13Number 4. Hurt
27:15Christina Aguilera
27:16Emerging as a teen idol in the late 90s, Christina Aguilera continued her musical dominance in the 2000s.
27:23She became known as much for her hit songs as she did for her enviable abilities.
27:27I'm sorry for blaming you
27:33Hurt stands as a triumph for the performer, reminding everyone of her talents with an unrivaled range.
27:40Aguilera digs deep in a song about grief in a performance that captures the complexities of losing someone.
27:46I would tell you how much that I missed you since you've been away
27:52A single from the Back to Basics album, the track shows that the artist has gotten even better in terms
27:57of both register and tone.
27:59Each chorus only supports the notion that the singer can't be beaten in terms of vocal quality.
28:04Thank you for all you've done
28:07Forgive all your mistakes
28:10Number 3. The Power of Love
28:12Céline Dion
28:13Céline Dion transforms any of her cover songs into a singular experience.
28:18She completely owns the power of love, originally sung by Jennifer Rush, through her intricate use of vocal pyrotechnics.
28:33Dion creates dramatic tension through the initial verses as she produces a more subtle sound.
28:38Once the chorus kicks in, the singer completely blossoms with the supreme confidence of a great performer, which she is.
28:46Cause I'm your lady
28:52Her voice climbs to staggering heights in a production that's second to none.
28:57And you are my man
29:02In the era of Whitney and Mariah, this artist arrived from Canada with her own ability to infuse any song
29:08with a vocal magic.
29:10Hour of love
29:17Number 2. I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston
29:34While it was written by Dolly Parton, the song truly hit another level with Whitney Houston behind the microphone.
29:40Some people have even come to believe that she's the original recording artist.
29:44Houston's towering vocals excel far beyond comprehension, creating an audio landscape that's been ingrained in pop culture.
29:52And I
29:58Will Always Love You
30:01The singer's big note in this track still ranks among the finest moments in music.
30:05This cover can't be beat for its excellence, even with other impressive work on the Bodyguard soundtrack, such as Run
30:12To You.
30:26Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's Adia, songs from Iran, reimagining Persian melodies as modern rock,
30:34metal, and pop songs.
30:35Check out the full track and album below.
30:37Maybe in another place in time
30:44We'd still be dancing
30:48Your hand in mine
30:52Number 1. Fly Like a Bird, Mariah Carey
30:56Mariah Carey never disappoints when it comes to hitting the highest notes.
31:00Fly like a bird
31:01Take to the sky
31:03I need you now, Lord
31:05Carry me high
31:06Always up for a challenge, Carey cruises through Fly Like a Bird with ease, utilizing every part of her vocal
31:13range to inspiring effect for this number.
31:15Proving that she's in the upper echelon of pop stardom, the singer spends the second half of the track spreading
31:20her musical wings.
31:28Her legendary vocal runs come out in full force during this underrated single from The Emancipation of Mimi.
31:34The artist's whistle register closes out this excellent piece, reminding everyone of the unbeatable abilities that she showed off in
31:41earlier songs like Emotions.
31:50Which pop song should you never pick for karaoke night? Let us know in the comments down below.
31:55technologies and features as well.
31:57legends
31:57and musicrás
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